High Achievers in the Aerospace Industry
and beyond
Sources of inspiration, but most importantly, sources of
determination
A significant number of us have been dreaming to fly and make things fly from rather early ages. We
then went on to study relevant subjects in our education and finally, we may be pursuing careers in
the aerospace/aviation sector at present. But how common is this motivation actively sustained until
the dream is reached? We find out from one very inspiring example; Akhil Viz is a Stress Engineer at
Atkins in Bristol, UK.
Akhil was born and brought up within the very modest 11 km perimeter of the British Colony;
Gibraltar. He owns a Commercial Pilot's License including Multi-Engine and Instrument Rating and he
is a devoted triathlete, achieving the title of the youngest Gibraltarian to finish the IRONMAN
triathlon and also represented Great Britain at the European Long Distance Triathlon
Championships.
***
YPC: Tell us about your background, what
prompted your interest in aerospace, what
education you pursued to follow your
interest?
couldn't convince the pilot to take me for a
flight!
At school, I took up four A-levels: Maths,
Physics, Chemistry and Biology and when I
was looking around for universities, the
University of Sheffield caught my eye because
it offered Aerospace Engineering with Pilot
Training so as well as getting an engineering
degree, I was able to get a flying license;
‘killing two birds with one stone’. However, I
only got 20 hours of flying experience through
the Pilot Training courses. During the
university holidays I would return to Gibraltar
where I would go flying every day, especially
AV: I was born and brought up in Gibraltar
which is a British Colony, a small place only 11
kilometres in perimeter. I used to live close to
the runway, so I used to see aircraft landing
and taking off all the time: Tornados, Hawkes,
Hercules, all kinds of military aircraft came
flying right in front of my very eyes. When I
was 15 years old, I took a one week work
experience at the RAF base in Gibraltar as the
Red Arrows were there. Unfortunately, I
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in the summer! And so, I obtained my Private
Pilot's License after my first year of university.
In my second and third year of university, I
studied for the Commercial Pilot exams, which
were 14 in total and also worked to build up
my flying experience. I took 8 of these exams
in second year and the remaining 6 in third
year and so I obtained my Commercial Pilot's
License with Multi Engine and Instrument
Rating enabling me to also fly above clouds. I
finished with a first class honours degree and I
joined Atkins in 2011.
right time, to be able to deliver efficiently and
think ahead. It is the kind of environment I like
to work in.
The most challenging would have to be when I
worked with Finite Element Analysis or as a
Static Stress Engineer. I found these a lot more
challenging. For example, for Finite Element
work I had to learn how to use Hypermeshi, it
proved to be a steep learning curve, at first
you can't even draw a line between two points
but once you learn how to properly use the
software you become a wizard. It's all a
matter of patience. Project Management has
its own challenges and responsibilities too!
YPC: Do you have any role models; is there
someone who has inspired you in a
professional context?
At Atkins I have been quite lucky, there is no
fixed scheme like at Airbus or Rolls-Royce
where you spend 3 months in a certain place,
then move onto another. Here it's all based on
the project. So one would have been in an elite
position as a graduate for 8,6 or 2 months,
depending on project needs. I am fortunate to
have had exposure to a good breath of
projects involving Systems Engineering, Finite
Element Analysis & Project Management. I am
very lucky that I have not been involved on the
same project longer than 1.5 years, I suppose
that as a graduate that's what you want.
AV: I don't have a role model, although I am
ambitious and I have high aspirations. I aspire
to be an executive, to be known as a president
of a company and an elite triathlete who
represents Gibraltar. I am grateful for the
support I have received from my parents and I
believe that one should always give 150% to
achieve what one wants, not just 100%. It's
about getting priorities right at the right time.
For example, to do my job and keep up my
fitness, I wake up at 4 am to fit everything in; I
am passionate and driven to do it. I don't just
want to be good at my job or keep up well
with my training for triathlons; I want both.
YPC: What do you think the UK aerospace
industry needs to do to attract more young
people into aerospace engineering?
YPC: At Atkins, you have been under various
roles since you started in 2011, from being a
Junior Project Manager to responsibilities
involving Finite Element modelling. Which one
have you enjoyed most and which one was
the most challenging?
AV: Well, there are a lot of people who do not
live 10 minutes away from a runway. I had an
idea about this just when I was riding my bike
to work recently. The Royal Aeronautical
Society and the aerospace companies in the
UK need to get together and start targeting
schools, universities and arrange site visits.
There are plenty of things to show, for
example in Filton there is the A400M, A350
and A380 landing gear test facilities. There is
also Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Defence and
Civil Aerospace, and GKN. In Derby there is
AV: The Project Management role I enjoyed
most - one my highlights so far. I prefer to
work as part of a team, working with people,
talking to people and solving issues. I worked
in a team with colleagues from different
places: Bangalore, Bristol and Seattle. It is
important to work with the right people at the
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Rolls-Royce where on the shop floors engines
can be seen being made, coming in and out.
Likewise, there are many other aerospace
companies in UK. For the young, the fact that
they can go and see the assembly line, how a
wing is made and assembled can rouse their
interest in aerospace engineering. It's not the
same as just showing them CAD models or
computer generated data. It is better to
witness it in reality. So this is the way to give
students an appreciation of what engineering
is, to see something being made, and how
vital the whole process of engineering is from
design to manufacture of an object.
YPC: If you could fly any aircraft, retired or still
in service, what would you like to fly and do
you have a specific route you'd like to travel?
AV: Seeing as I am already a pilot, I already
know what I'd like to fly. I would choose a
CESSNA 152, the basic student aircraft that
you learn to fly with. The reason why I'd prefer
this to, say an Airbus A320, is because with
this aircraft I will be able to do loops and spin
the aircraft. Although, I have done the
majority of my flight training in Spain, I have
never flown above Gibraltar, one has to circle
around Gibraltar as you can't enter its
airspace as there are a lot of military aircrafts
in that area.
YPC: What made you become interested in
the Royal Aeronautical Society?
***
AV: It all started when I was at Sheffield
University; there was a presentation about
joining the RAeS so I thought there would be
no harm in joining. Throughout university I
remained a student member and I’m now an
Associate Member of the RAeS. I am currently
making
substantial
progress
towards
obtaining my Chartership with the RAeS.
Interview written and conducted by Alexandra
Stefanescu, editor of the YPC Newsletter, on behalf of
the YPC.
i
Hypermesh is software used for solid geometry
modelling, meshing, and visualisation with the
purpose of monitoring structural performance. It is
software developed and distributed by company
Altair.
YPC: Do you have any hobbies which reflect
your interests?
AV: Sports would be my main hobby. I write a
fortnightly article for The Bristol Post and am
currently working on organising based mini
triathlon in August 2014.
YPC: Do you have a special message for our
readers?
AV: If you are unsure about aerospace as a
career speak to engineers and other
engineering students. There is never a stupid
question. Aim for the sky and not just the
ceiling. Go out, pursue and get involved in
things you enjoy doing most. Do not compare
yourself to others, just give it your best, enjoy
it and have fun!
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